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Air pollution is 'leading environmental risk factor'

Air pollution is one of the major causes of premature death in the world, scientists have told a major conference. Two countries account for more than half of the several million fatalities each year, they say.

Air pollution is the fourth highest risk factor for premature death worldwide, with more than 5.5 million people dying each year as a result of exposure to dangerous levels of particulate matter, scientists told a conference in Washington, DC.

"Reducing air pollution is an incredibly efficient way to improve the health of a population," said Michael Brauer, a professor at the University of British Columbia's School of Population and Public Health in Vancouver, Canada.

He told the conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) that smog was responsible for about 10 percent of premature deaths annually worldwide.

Only high blood pressure, diet and smoking cause more premature fatalities, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study carried out by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle.

China and India worst affected

Of the yearly global deaths from air pollution, 55 percent occur in China and India, according to researchers. In 2013, about 1.6 million people in China and 1.4 million in India died of diseases related to poor air quality.

In China, the bulk of air pollution comes from burning coal, and in India the main culprit is the burning of wood, dung and biomass for cooking and heating, in addition to road traffic. In February, the respective capitals, Beijing and New Delhi, typically see daily levels at or above 300 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter - or 1,200 percent higher than WHO guidelines, researchers said.

The researchers said more than 85 percent of the world's population lived in areas exceeding the WHO guidelines of a maximum of 25 micrograms per cubic meter.

The AAAS conference is the world's largest scientific conference. This year's meeting will run until Monday, February 15.

tj/mkg (dpa, AFP)

Top 10 worst cities for smog

Beijing, China

The Chinese capital has been suffering again from smog this winter with residents forced to wear masks outdoors. But, according to the most recent figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), the megacity doesn't even rank among the top 10 cities for smog. Most of the worst afflicted are smaller cities across the developing world.

Top 10 worst cities for smog

Ahwaz, Iran

The city of Ahwaz ranks worst on the WHO's list when it comes to smog, making it, officially, the city with the dirtiest air in the world. The reason is the amount of heavy industry in the city, which uses oil, metals and natural gas in its production processes.

Top 10 worst cities for smog

Ulan Bator, Mongolia

Ulan Bator is not only one of the coldest capitals on earth, it's also the city with the second worst air pollution worldwide. During the winter months, domestic fireplaces with coal and wood contribute up to 70 percent of the smog in the city.

Top 10 worst cities for smog

Lahore, Pakistan

Air pollution is one of Pakistan's main environmental concerns at the moment. The situation is particularly dramatic in the country's second largest city, Lahore. The smog is caused primarily by the high volume of road traffic, rubbish incineration and dust from the surrounding deserts.

Top 10 worst cities for smog

New Delhi, India

In the nearly 10 million-strong city of New Delhi, the number of cars has increased from 180,000 to 3.5 million in the last 30 years. Still, it's the city's coal powered plants that are causing the biggest problem. They contribute to around 80 percent of the total air pollution in the city.

Top 10 worst cities for smog

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sandstorms, like here in Riyadh, can contribute to smog forming because they increase the amount of particles in the air. In a place like Saudi Arabia, the intense ultra-violet rays also transform transport and industry emissions into ozone.

Top 10 worst cities for smog

Cairo, Egypt

The poor air quality in Cairo causes a number illnesses among city residents, like chronic respiratory problems and lung cancer. The reason for the air pollution is an increase in road traffic and the booming industrial sector.

Top 10 worst cities for smog

Dhaka, Bangladesh

According to a study by the Max-Planck Institute in Mainz, some 15,000 people die every year in Dhaka due to air pollution. Researchers found the world's highest concentration of sulfur dioxide there.

Top 10 worst cities for smog

Moscow, Russia

Even if it looks the same the world over, smog is different, depending on the city. Smog in Moscow, for instance, is characterized by high amounts of hydrocarbons. The westerly winds which regularly blow across Moscow mean that the western part of the city generally has better air quality.

Top 10 worst cities for smog

Mexico City, Mexico

The smog in Mexico City is made worse by the geographical location. The city is surrounded on three sides by mountains. Due to the high levels of sulfur dioxide and hydrocarbons in the air, Mexico City was long considered one of the most polluted cities in the world. The situation is now improving due to new transport policies and certain factories being shutdown.